Some of the rare but extremly stupid blackjack mistakes that I have seen are somebody staying on ace-2 more common is some staying on ace-5 they have nothing to lose by hitting it. They have 3 and six in these examples. Staying here is complete moron play! Hitting a 20 or a 21 they have everything to lose and nothing to gain! The last extremly stupid mistake is not splitting aces!

Suppose you walk into a crowded casino with two friends. You wish to play together but there is only 1 seat at the table.Sitting down and standing on A-5 and such will very likely insure you and your friends will soon be playing together.Also works quite well when someone lights up an obnoxious cigar.

The standing on soft 16 is because some people that gamble in casinos don't understand the rules of the game very well. You have about a 40% chance of imroving your hand and 0% chance of busting so you should always hit it. I said that these were extremely stupid mistakes! Other people don't care for the most part how others play at the table. If you do that and the other people at the table are winning when you are losing most people could careless. If you don't like the people that you are sitting with move to another table. There are usually a few blackjack tables in any given casino!

Playing a single deck game in Reno and reading the dealers hole card over 75% of the time. I have A,5 and the dealer is showing a 4 (with a 9 in the hole) but the dealer flashed by mistake the top card on the deck, a queen. So I stay knowing the dealer must bust.

So staying on A,5 is 100% the correct play when you know the dealers hole card and you also know that the card the dealer will hit will bust him. Otherwise you hit.

In my experiences, the following illogical, inane mistake is right at the top of extremely typical blackjack errors. I see this play made for green/black chips with impressive frequency.

A person plays just reasonable basic strategy, and then is dealt a pair of 4's against the dealer's 4, 5 or 6. He's had 5/3 and 6/2 against a 4, 5, 6 several times and has just hit them all. But when his total of 8 comes in the form of two 4's, something snaps in his brain and he has the mysterious compulsion to double down.

When asked why he didn't or wouldn't double with 5/3 against that same up-card, various replies have been; "That's a whole different hand", or, "Buddy, I'm not gonna explain the game to ya", or, "Because that's what the book says." To that last reply, the table often chimes in in unison, "Yeah, that's what the book says." Go figure.

I saw a lady splitting tens against a dealer ten this is an extremely stupid mistake that I saw that cost the player as much as 55% of her bet on the average!!! That is a huge no no!

Perhaps the lady saw the dealers hole card and knew the dealer had a 16 and it was the proper play for the count? Just kidding but if that dealer had a 16, you have to wonder if there is more to the story. Years ago when my bet level was lower, I played a 3 hour session in a Reno sweat shop that I would usually only hit for an hour or less. Why, because the pit thought I was a complete idiot at the table but extremely lucky. Of course, I could read the dealer's hole over 75% of the time.

A few days ago I witnessed a ploppy split his 10's 3 times so he had 4 10's laying out in front of him. The dealer would have busted if the plopy had allowed the dealer to take just one of them-the dealer drew a 4 and beat us all. Looking up at the ceiling I kept saying to myself "other peoples play doesn't affect me in the long run."Prog

I saw somebody split two fives at first I thought that he was trying to double so i said you want to double down right and he said no I want to split. The next mistake that I saw was somebody doubled down when they had 5 they had a zero percent chance of making a hand of 17 or better.

I saw somebody split two fives at first I thought that he was trying to double so i said you want to double down right and he said no I want to split. The next mistake that I saw was somebody doubled down when they had 5 they had a zero percent chance of making a hand of 17 or better.

I could think of a circumstance where that would be reasonable perhaps (doubling on a 5). Count is sky-high, dealer has a 6 up, doubling would be a perfect play there since you'd expect a 10 and would not be hitting again anyway, and the dealer would be the underdog with the probable 10 down and drawing another big card.

I have a pair 3's vs a dealer 6, so I split. I get an 8 and double and get the 21. One the other hand I get another 3 and split again. Then comes a 2, so I double 5, as the true count in now about +14 with a deck left in the shoe, final three I get a 4 and double again. Dealer turns a ten and then busts. I win 6 max bets.

If using a count system where you do not side count aces, the danger in this play is that the dealer might have an ace under his 6 or if he has 16 he might he an ace.

Also plays like this will fool the pit often and also clear out players on a crowded table quite often.

(1) best case scenario. You are in a single-deck game, with 15 cards left undealt, and a running count of +16 and your ace side count says all aces have been played. The dealer has a 6 up. You know he has a 10 down as there are 16 tens undealt, with 15 of them in the dealer's hand to be dealt, the last one must be the dealer's hole card. I would split any two cards I had, including 5's, to get more money on the table, since I can't possibly lose if I just don't do something stupid and bust.

(2) get rid of obnoxious players. Split 10's. Hit 12 vs 4. Any play with a small bet out is not that important, and if it causes obnoxious players to leave, it is a plus. If it emptys the table completely, obnoxious players or not, it is still good... and if it confuses the pit too, so much the better. Nothing like splitting 10's, having a wise-ass pit critter come over and count the discards down (and get -12 or something) and look at you like "thought you were counting but the count is negative... what an idiot for splitting 10's..."

Don't see that "count-down" stuff much at all nowadays. I've not had it happen in 2-3 years. But I have had a pit critter try to impress the floor shift manager once or twice in the past, "watch me, I'm going to catch me a counter here..."

I have only seen 2 players out of a 1000 do it but it has got to be the most horrific play I have ever seen!!! Two 5's is good double down hand!!! the result of splitting two 5's is you get 2 bad hands from one hand that has a chance to be an above average hand!!! Doubling is allowed on 10 so it does not make any sense!!!

I have only seen 2 players out of a 1000 do it but it has got to be the most horrific play I have ever seen!!! Two 5's is good double down hand!!! the result of splitting two 5's is you get 2 bad hands from one hand that has a chance to be an above average hand!!! Doubling is allowed on 10 so it does not make any sense!!!

I am sitting at first base and when you dealt yourself your hole card I caught a glimpse of a pip of the card on top of the deck in your hand. The card is a 6 and I have 5,5 and we are in a real casino where you can double after split.Now doubling 10 is the most horrific play I can think of!This exact play happened to me recently. Dealer is showing a 3 and I split my 5's. Get the flashed 6, double and get 21. Get a nine on the other for 14 and was fortunate that the dealer did bust.

Point is: Sometimes the idiot of the table is not the guy you thought.

With 2 5's hitting is better play than splitting them!!! I hate 17 is a dumb as rock when it comes to playing blackjack!!! Only smart people can constinatly win at blackjack because it is a game of skill!!!

With 2 5's hitting is better play than splitting them!!! I hate 17 is a dumb as rock when it comes to playing blackjack!!! Only smart people can constinatly win at blackjack because it is a game of skill!!!

Not only is that not a particularly nice thing to say about ihate17, its not at all true. As a matter of fact I'd be willing to bet that just about everyone on this board would disagree with you on that one. I'm not sure what you're trying to accomplish with all your posts learningtocount, but helping people learn about blackjack is not it. Most of the time you're flat out wrong, and the times you aren't its about things that are so blatantly obvious it rarely needs to be stated. Let alone with 3 exclamation points. I very rarely see the point to directly respond to your posts but I think you need to get some more playing experience and start asking questions instead of blurting out ridiculous statements. And I also believe insulting people that don't agree with you isn't showing very much class. Please wisen up before your next post.

Not only is that not a particularly nice thing to say about ihate17, its not at all true. As a matter of fact I'd be willing to bet that just about everyone on this board would disagree with you on that one. I'm not sure what you're trying to accomplish with all your posts learningtocount, but helping people learn about blackjack is not it. Most of the time you're flat out wrong, and the times you aren't its about things that are so blatantly obvious it rarely needs to be stated. Let alone with 3 exclamation points. I very rarely see the point to directly respond to your posts but I think you need to get some more playing experience and start asking questions instead of blurting out ridiculous statements. And I also believe insulting people that don't agree with you isn't showing very much class. Please wisen up before your next post.

Learningtocount needs to take Bojack's advice and "think".

I think it is bj21.com that suggest/advises you to think a little about your post. Such advice may serve you well (credit to Bojack).

If I were to DD on a total of 4 vs 10, what would you think?

Or, why not 5 vs 10?

Totally stupid you say? I beg to differ my friend and so does the wizardofodds.com. Look at BJ appendix #16 for situations that make this a valid move.

With 2 5's hitting is better play than splitting them!!! I hate 17 is a dumb as rock when it comes to playing blackjack!!! Only smart people can constinatly win at blackjack because it is a game of skill!!!

In my post I mentioned seeing the top card in a pitch game. I know that by hitting I have a 16 which is a big underdog to a dealer showing a 3. By splitting I am gauranteed an 11 and a double down which is a big favorite over a dealer 3.So if I would just hit or double and get a sure 16, that would be, as you stupidly said, "dumb as a rock"

I have been doing this and making money at it for nearly 30 years and you can not even READ!!!!!!

I think Learning has read a book and locked himself into what it says. As both of you know, to be a real advantage player you must seek out advantages and then modify strategy accordingly. Flexibility.

I hole card whenever possible. The advantage is much better than straight counting and strange plays come more often. The play I wrote about not only was a decent winner but at least at the moment labeled me a poor player getting lucky in the eyes of the pit. Of course you can not do every possible play without folks getting suspicious.

Again, you don't think things through. You are dealt A-10, the dealer has a 6 up. You have been carefully counting cards including an ace side count, and you know there are nothing but 10's left. Which means the dealer has a 16, and will bust with a 26.

you have bet $100 on this hand.

If you "stand" you get paid $150 (3:2).

If you "hit" you will still have 21 and win, but you only get paid $100.

If you double, you will still get 21, but after the dealer busts, you get paid $200.

Now which one of those plays makes you the most money?

Now assume the player is _not_ counting cards. But he saw the next card to be dealt and saw a 10. So he knows he will have a 21. He now has a $200 bet on the table that has a very high probability of winning. Yes there is one dealer hand total that will push, but it is a long-shot. With that 6 up from above, the dealer will bust 42% of the time. The only problem case is when he hits to 21 to push my bet, which he will do about 9% of the time. My expected win for doubling the 21 vs dealer 6 is then $200 * .91 (91% of the hands I will win outright) + .09 * 0. I expect to win over $180 by doubling, as opposed to only $150 by taking the snapper payout. Which seems better?

And I am not talking tournament strategy where it is not that uncommon to double on an A-10 hand because you need to get more money on the table (because there is a table max you can't go over on your initial bet, but you are allowed to double or split to get more than the table max out).

So the person doing that might not be quite as stupid as you think he/she is... they might know a lot more than you do in fact..

The bottom line is that you can't really judge another players game sometimes.What looks like a stupid departure from BS may well be just that,or it may be that the player has seen the next card,or it can be several other factors that you just don't know about.As the others play doesn't affect you,just let it go.Hi-5 the guy after he doubles his 15 against the 10 and wins.Console him when he loses it.There is no reason to be involved in other players hands unless you are trying to buy some of their splits.

The bottom line is that you can't really judge another players game sometimes.What looks like a stupid departure from BS may well be just that,or it may be that the player has seen the next card,or it can be several other factors that you just don't know about.As the others play doesn't affect you,just let it go.Hi-5 the guy after he doubles his 15 against the 10 and wins.Console him when he loses it.There is no reason to be involved in other players hands unless you are trying to buy some of their splits.

I found out first hand not to judge what may seem as stupid play. Not to far back I was taught that lesson by an extremely talented player who posts on this board. What made no sense to me at the time makes perfect sense now after analyzing it and being filled in what was going on. I believe there are some lucky circumstances that can change the way people play, and there are just certain people who play at a level and do things most of us don't, or on the surface can't understand. And also what I learned is, the really good ones have no trouble looking like the really bad ones. I feel from seeing it first hand, when they're that good the only ones who really know it is them.

On the other hand, sometimes you can judge another's play. I still don't say anything, but I have a good laugh.

I was playing recently when the player had an 11 against a 6. He hit, to the dismay of everyone at the table (besides me, who as noted previously, generally keeps his mouth shut), who were telling him to double. This was followed by the player having an 8 against a dealer's ace. He doubled.

It wasn't as if he had never played blackjack before either -- in talking with him, he had played blackjack for many, many years. Maybe he was psychic. Well, but not that time -- he left with pretty huge losses.

On the other hand, sometimes you can judge another's play. I still don't say anything, but I have a good laugh.

I was playing recently when the player had an 11 against a 6. He hit, to the dismay of everyone at the table (besides me, who as noted previously, generally keeps his mouth shut), who were telling him to double. This was followed by the player having an 8 against a dealer's ace. He doubled.

It wasn't as if he had never played blackjack before either -- in talking with him, he had played blackjack for many, many years. Maybe he was psychic. Well, but not that time -- he left with pretty huge losses.

Guys like him should get comped very well.Guys like him are a part of the reason casinos should not be paranoid over their blackjack games.Guys like him make some of my hole card plays work better because to the pit, I might appear to be a guy like him for a while.Guys like him are part of the reason a casino can offer a game with a .2% edge and make 3% on it.Guys like him are part of the reason that blackjack is still offered in decent forms at many casinos.

Without guys like him, there would be no playable blackjack anywhere. So I officially want to thank, "guys like him".

Doubling hard 12 the player that did this did it two times and busted both times. Another really bad play that he made was doubling a hard 5 against a dealer 2 he has a 0% chance of making a hand between 17-21. Not to mention that the dealer only has a 35% chance of busting. I don't know what play is worse doubling 5 or doubling 12.

Doubling hard 12 the player that did this did it two times and busted both times. Another really bad play that he made was doubling a hard 5 against a dealer 2 he has a 0% chance of making a hand between 17-21. Not to mention that the dealer only has a 35% chance of busting. I don't know what play is worse doubling 5 or doubling 12.

LTCYou have to take doubling a 12 with a grain of salt sometimes. Say the dealer is showing a 2 or 3 and you have a 12. Basic strategy says to hit and to hit only once. So you double for less adding $1 to your bet. Still not a good bet but since you were only going to hit once anyway, just for kicks at the price of $1 you double.

Now doubling 5 is doubling a hand where you must hit twice in order to make any kind of hand. You might only hit it once vs a dealer stiff, but having the option of being able to hit it more than once is the key, the only key for you to make a real hand and betting twice as much to remove your option is purely foolish.

"What... the dealers stands on soft 17!", was the remark when I first saw it. I just about giggled at the onerous ploppy wedged inbetwen him and me. Musta turned every shade of red there was, and left after the wiseguy drew two faces for a push.

I had one customer forget or did not know that he had to take a card when he doubled down. He put his money out there with king, king or hard 20 so I immediately split them. He got a 3 on his first hand he told me that he wanted to double down once I told him that he would of busted he just keeped the split.